x1 | video.

[t65]

[Hey, it's Luke Skywalker, sitting at his pastel desk. There's plenty of junk littered on it, mostly scraps of droid parts and tools, but the inquisitive observer will notice a few mystery vials of colorful chemicals, and a hypo of fast-penta scattered among the rubble.]

I noticed there aren't any service droids on the ship-- when I mentioned that to the captains, they said I should... make some? [Luke has a distinct look of 'what have I gotten myself into' on his face.] We definitely need some mouse droids and basic repair droids-- we already have good engineers, but this would help them out in a pinch. Do you think we need gonk droids?

[Well? Do you?]

Have you noticed any droids we could use? A 1B prototype couldn't hurt...

[That's right, request a droid, Luke might be able to make it for you eventually. He's serious. Though they probably won't have much in the way of lively personalities, who doesn't want a robot?]

Oh- and Doctor Yewll? Mr Banner? Ed? I know we discussed some kind of prosthetic... if I'm going to be making droids, I might need that sooner than later. [He kind of cringe smiles before cutting the feed.]

Comments

[t65]

[Luke knows what people say about Rinzler, lately. He's not sure if he agrees with Cassandra, but he respects her willingness to stick by her friends and her principles.]

Oh, I really am rusty, I- hey! [But Luke's grinning, even if his tone is a little childish.] Okay, okay, you got me.

[He points to a few more bolts in the box.] Those are diagnostic. The rest are mostly used to give droids more information when you don't have time to reprogram them with it. They're pretty simple.

[He leans back and grabs a long cylindrical tube.] You want to help me put in the main power cels? It's easier with two hands.

[deal]

[She thinks it's funny how all of this is so easy to him, like reprogramming and knowing exactly which part does what. It's so far removed from anything she could've learned to do back home, so she supposes that getting to have moments like this one are part of what make being here not bad at all.

As he grabs a tube, she nods, taking a few seconds to touch at the other bolts he's pointed out.]

Two hands that know what they're doing, maybe, but you're stuck with your trained ones and mine that are still learning. Luckily, you're a good teacher.

[Smiling, she puts the bolts she was toying with back where they came from.]

Are the power cels what keep it running?

[t65]

[Luke grins, obviously pleased by the compliment.] I only just started; we'll see what you say in a week. [He's serious about this, if she is.]

Yes, but these are special. Gonk droids are power droids-- that's what their real name is-- so they have their main power- [He taps some similar-looking tubes within the droid's frame.] -and the auxiliary power for mobile recharges. My friend Biggs used to call them 'walking batteries'.

[deal]

[She's not used to people making long term plans with her, and she stares over at him for a few moments before trying to act like she isn't shocked by something simple that he's said in passing.]

So, I'll never run out of energy when he's around.

[Slowly, a pleased smile tugs up at the corners of her mouth, and she ducks her head so he can't see it. It's the sort of smile a kid might give for being excited about something, and she's sure it looks stupid. So she acts as if she's getting a good look at the tubes within the frame, so her hair falls down in her face.]

I can come by a few nights a week, after I'm finished with my work. Or you could meet me for dinner sometimes, then we can come back and work.

[t65]

[Luke snorts.] Only if you're a droid.

That sounds nice. I'll need an assistant until I get this patched up, anyway. [He nods toward his right arm.]

[deal]

So you'll only keep me around until then, huh?

[Her tone is too sassy to actually be offended, but she does makes a show out of rolling her eyes.]

Typical man.

[She does hope that someone here is able to help him, though.]

[t65]

I- hey. [Luke pouts, but only a little.] By then, you'll probably be good enough to replace me.

[deal]

I didn't even know what a droid was until today.

[She gives him a look that says she thinks he's crazy, but it melts into a smirk as she reaches out to give him a nudge against his injured arm. Stop it with the pouting, buddy.]

I think your reputation as droid master on the ship is safe for a while, Luke.

[t65]

I'm no master. What I really like- [There's a slight pause as he screws in another power relay-] is working on engines. But this is interesting; I'm learning a lot.

[deal]

So you work on cars back home?

[He doesn't look the type, so she looks a little surprised to hear it. But then again, he's good with his hand and is making fast work out of this droid.]

[t65]

What's a car?

[deal]

[What.

She stares, eyebrows knotting closely together.]

It's a metal box on wheels. You get in it to drive places, so you don't have to walk.

[It's all said flatly and with complete disbelief.]

[t65]

Wheels? Your planet puts wheels on its vehicles?

[deal]

Yeah, how else are we gonna get around?

[She's trying really hard to figure out his offense here.]

Earth is just a really crazy place, apparently.

[t65]

Repulsorlifts! Even Tatooine has repulsorlifts. Haven't you ever seen a speeder? [Rather than angry, he seems genuinely concerned for her welfare.]

[deal]

[She shakes her head.]

I haven't seen one before, sorry. I don't even know what a repulso-

[Okay, she can't even say the word. Her cheeks turn a little red and she glances away.]

I don't even know what that is.

[t65]

[Luke can see that she's embarrassed, and he's not sure what he can do to ameliorate it.]

They're, uh, the main conductor for hover vehicles. I'll show you, there have to be some on this ship. [He leans forward a little conspiratorially, and half-whispers,] I've never even seen a wheeled... a 'car' before.

[deal]

[That last part gets her to smile, this time more warmly than before. She appreciates that he's trying to make her feel less embarrassed. So she leans forward as well, and looks around as if someone might be there to eavesdrop. Glancing back at him, she whispers]

Hover vehicles have to be better than cars.

[Very basic compared to something that hovers, at least. She leans back so she can grab four bolts. They're quickly turned on their sides, to act as wheels. She finds another part that doesn't really look like the body of a car, but works to try and set it atop the bolts. Of course, nothing stays where it's supposed to and she scowls at the stupid thing, watching one of the bolts roll away. ]

They look a little like that, only without the pieces rolling all over the place.